The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1887-01-20

the express, provided I would let him
use Two-Bits for the purpose.
His name was Porter. He was a
sergeant in F. Company of the Fifth
Infantry, and a Londonderry Irishman
by birth. Years afterward, when he
had won a Lieutenant's commission in
the army, we knew that he was of
gentle descent, and that he was a grad
uate of a university. He vas a hand
some, soldierly man, of good height
and undoubted courage.
"But Two-Bits is my private prop
erty, sergeant" I said to him, land is
not subject to such service"
al know that, sir; but he has many
qualities which fit him for it. He is
feet, he will not whinny or do any
thing to attract attention in an Indian
country. He will not desert his rider
If he gets loose, or be stampeded if his
rider goes to sleep while he grazes."
On the 25th of October Sergeant
Porter rode out of Fort Whipple,
mounted on Two-Bits, after having re-
ceived hearty good wishes and hand
shakes from both men and officers. He
carried a mail pouch weighing twenty
pounds, an overcoat and three blankets,
ten days r~ations, a carbine and two re-
| volvers, with plenty of ammunition.
The adventures of horse and rider, after
we saw them disappear behind the
rocks three miles below the fort, were
| related to me in 1867 at Fort Sumner,
1 N " h, sofononk parfor
The ride for four days was without
incident worth relating. At two o'clock
on the fourth day he found himself
descending from a range of hills to a
| plain about ten miles in width. The
trail being stony. he dismounted, and
walked along behind his horse, leaving
| the animal to choose his own gait. A
low ridge rose on the edge of the
plain.
Two-Bits walked slowly up the
ridge, raising his head high as he APP
proaches it. Suddenly he stopped, per-
fectly rigid-his ears set forward and
his eyes fixed upon some object, evident
ly In alarm. Porter crept carefully for.
ward and looked over the ridge. Be-
hind a mass of powders which skirted
the road, just where it touched the
plain, four Indian ponies could be seen.
Evidently their riders were hidden
among the rocks, watching for the mail
carrier who, they supposed, would pass
along the usually travelled route.
The sergeant backed Two-Bits far
enough to get him out of sight of the
Indians, should any one of them glance
in his direction. He then carefully ex-
amined and moved his ammunition
pouch where it would be more conven-
lent. He also examined the saddle
girths and every strap about the hous.
ings. When all was ready he patted
the old horse affectionately on the neck
and sprang into the saddle.
Porter always insists that Two-Bits un:
derstood what was coming as we'll as he
did. During the tightening Of the
straps he turned his head and watched
every motion of the man as if he had 9
personal interest in the security of hi
equipments and rider. Porter advanced
cautiously over the ridge and wen
slowly down the other side. He was
anxious to prevent the Indians from
discovering him until he should be wei
past the gullies in the road. These h
passed safely, and, as he rose to tn,
level ground beyond, he noticed tina
one of the mustangs in the bowlder
was holding its head high in the ali
and watching his movements.
He Immediately halted, thinking tina
if he killed a pony he should certainl,
have n less pursuer. Aiming care
fully, he fired and the mustang fell
Putting spurs to his horse he reloaded
his carbine as he flew along, and glanc
ing back saw the Indians leap from
their cover and hurry to their horses.
Soon after the shrill staccato of tn
Navajo war-whoop showed that the,
were in pursuit, and looking back, h
saw three Indians in the saddle ant
pursuing him at the top of their ponies
speed. Two-Bits threw himself int.
the task of running away from tn
mustangs with all the elasticity an,
grace which had distinguished him TO
|, years in the field and on the race
course, and had always led to victory
He settled down to a long and stead,
gait.
The soldier was beginning to con
graduate himself upon his wisdom il
insisting upon having Two-Bits for hi
service. With every spring the oil
: horse seemed to be leaving his pursuer
: farther behind, and this continued TO
: several miles, when Porter began t
see that no further change was evident
and after a little longer time he ha
. reluctantly to admit that the Navajo
: were slowly but surely gaining upo
him. At length an arrow flew betwee
= Porter's shoulder and ear. This wa
| the first intimation he had hat the sa,
5 ages were within shooting distance
Turning in his saddle he raised his cal
: bine and fired, breaking an Indian
t arm and causing him to fall into tn
road, while the riderless pony stoppe
a by the wayside and began at once t
Craze.
As Porter brought his carbine fo1
ward, to place a new cartridge in til
v breech, an arrow struck his right hant
his fingers relaxed, and his preciou
: carbine fell to the ground. Sergear
4 Porter hastily bound his h~andkerchit
about his wounded hand and drew
revolver with his left. Turning, b
g fired several shots, without effect, e,
t cept to keep the Indians hanging owe
r the sides of their ponies; but after
while, finding his left-handed amin
was perfectly wild, they conceive
e such a contempt for it that they sat u
right and shot arrow after arrow t.
wards him.
II Two pierced his shoulder
and the shafts of three could be see
e sticking in the quarters of Two-Bit
c switching up and down with eao
C bound. At last Il lucky shot caus
one of the Navajos to pull up suddenl
9 dismOunt. and sit down by the roa